After Saul sent his servant ahead, Samuel poured a flask of oil over Saul’s head and said, “I am doing this because the LORD has appointed you to be the leader of his prized possession Israel.”
1 Samuel 10:1 KJV Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
He then told Saul what was going to happen on his way home; that he would see two men at Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah. They would say that the donkeys have been found and that his father was now concerned about him. Then when he would get to the oak of Tabor, he would see three men on their way to worship at Bethel. The one would have three goats and another would have three loaves of bread; the third would have a wineskin filled with wine. They would offer him two of the loaves which he was supposed to accept. Then, when he would arrive at Gibeah, and band of prophets would come down from the place of worship. They would be playing musical instruments and they would be prophesying. At that time the Spirit of the LORD would come upon him and he would prophesy with them. The Spirit of the LORD would change him into a different person. Then he was to go down to Gigal and wait seven days for Samuel. Then Samuel would give him further instructions.
1 Samuel 10:9-10 KJV And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. (10) And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
Samuel called all of Israel together at Mizpah to tell the people what the LORD told him to say: “I brought you out of Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from the nations. I brought you out of oppression. But you have rejected me today wanting a king to rule over you instead of the LORD your God.”
1 Samuel 10:17-19 ESV Now Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah. (18) And he said to the people of Israel, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.' (19) But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, 'Set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands."
Then Israel was instructed to present themselves by tribes and by clans. The lots were cast and the lot fell to the tribe of Benjamin, and then to the family of Matri and then to Saul son of Kish. When he came forward, he stood head and shoulders above all men and Samuel said, “See the LORD has chosen one that is like no other to be your king. And the people shouted, “God save the king!”
1 Samuel 10:24 KJV And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
Then Samuel instructed every one to return back to their homes. The ceremony of the LORD choosing a king from among the people was over and there was to be peace. Saul returned to his house with a band of men whom the LORD touched their hearts to be loyal supporters. But Belial and his family despised Saul
1 Samuel 10:26-27 KJV And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. (27) But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
A month later, Nahash the Ammonites came against the people at Jabesh and the people wanted to make a treaty with the Ammonites. Nahash agreed to make a treaty, but all of the people would have to have their right eyes gouged out as a disgrace on all of Israel.
1 Samuel 11:1-2 ESV Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you." (2) But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel."
Then the people asked one week to decide. When Saul found out, the Spirit of the LORD fell upon him with rage. He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent them throughout Israel and told the people that this is what will happen to all of the oxen in Israel if anyone refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle.
1 Samuel 11:6-7 ESV And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. (7) He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!" Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.
And the LORD made the people afraid of Saul and was able to mobilize 300,000 men at Bezek from Israel and 30,000 from Judah.
1 Samuel 11:8 ES When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
Saul launched a surprise attack and slaughtered the Ammonites so badly that not two men of the Ammonites could be found together.
1 Samuel 11:11 ESV And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Then the people wanted to kill Belial and all of those who spoke against Saul, but he said; “No one will be executed because today the LORD rescued Israel.” Then Samuel led the people to Gigal to renew the kingdom, and there, they made Saul king before the LORD; sacrificing peace offerings and celebrating with great joy!
1 Samuel 11:12-15 ESV Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death." (13) But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel." (14) Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom." (15) So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me into the loyalty of your true faith. Thank you for being my king. Lead me to what you are blessing, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
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